Federation's high-handedness put paid to Goonga Pahalwan's world championship hopes

11.06.2018
NEW DELHI: Federation politics and its high handedness has let another world champion down - the 'Goonga Pahalwan'. Legendary deaf and mute wrestler and three-time Deaflympics medallist, Virender Singh's hopes of representing the country at another world championship has cruelly been crushed after his national federation - All India Sports Council of the Deaf (AISCD) - kept him in the dark about the last date of sending entries for the tournament in Vladimir, Russia from June 11-19.

Virender, who has been punished for speaking out against the alleged irregularities committed by the AISCD, is crest-fallen. The 33-year-old winner of seven international medals, including three gold from Deaflympics and one gold from the Deaf Worlds, has indicated through his supporters that he would be protesting outside the Shastri Bhawan - the building which houses the sports ministry - against the injustice meted out to him and his community by the federation.

The issue relates to Virender's accusing the federation of not paying him and other participating athletes their 'pocket allowance' due for the 2017 Samsun Deaflympics. This led to AISCD suspending him in March this year.

In the recent developments, AISCD kept on insisting that Virender should first apologise for making false allegations. However, none from the federation bothered to inform either the Sports Authority of India (SAI) or Virender that the official deadline for sending entries was May 1, 2018.

TOI is in possession of two mails from the organising committee of the World Deaf Senior Greco-Roman & Freestyle wrestling championship in Vladimir which clearly state May 1 as the last date for sending entries. "We have to inform you that the official deadline for providing all necessary documents for issuing the official letter of invitation has passed on May 1, 2018. Due to lack of time, we are not able to provide you the official letter of invitation," read one of the mails.

Even during the federation officials' meeting with one of the joint secretaries of the sports ministry on May 23, they didn't inform the ministry official about the expiration of the deadline. The joint secretary had, in a letter dated May 25, categorically told the AISCD to immediately revoke Virender's suspension and make arrangements for his trip to Russia.

Despite the ministry's diktat, AISCD kept on asking for apology from Virender. Even after the wrestler apologising on two occasions - June 1 and June 4 - the federation is yet to revoke his suspension. Also, the federation didn't even make efforts for arranging Virender's late entry to the organisers.

TOI wrote a mail to AISCD secretary general Walter Fernandez asking for the letter where it has revoked his suspension, but no reply has come till date. Even the wrestler and his team of supporters are yet to receive any such communication from the federation.